I do not, in any way, shape or form, consider myself a pessimist; in fact, I believe I am the opposite. I'm always looking ahead to the future and the opportunities and journeys that lay ahead of me, and I usually succeed in finding the good in even the worst of situations. However, with all of that said, as 2017 comes up I think everyone can agree on one thing this year. Can it end already?

Between the U.S. presidential election, increased terror and instability throughout the world, and the constantly evolving rate at which social media and technology are being improved and updated every single day, this has been an exhausting year. I think everyone can agree that this year has felt longer than most, due to the factors I previously mentioned in addition to other issues that have become even more apparent this year, such as climate change. It's hard to imagine what the world, or at least America, will be like in the near future. I can't imagine people being more health and technology-obsessed than they are now, but I am guessing that as the years go by, new carcinogens will continue being common discoveries, as will other ingredients and foods that prove to increase different disorders, conditions, etc. While I do complain about society's increased usage of social media and technology, I often forget the positive benefits that arise from this reality. It is because of these technological advancements that, hopefully, in my lifetime, we will witness the termination of certain diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. Also, in a couple years we will, most likely, witness the first self-driving cars among other creations. The possibilities are endless.

The new year always seems to come at the right time, and I am excited about the prospect of 2017 and what the future has in store in terms of my personal life (turning 21 and entering my senior year in college); however, this year, I do think 2017 can be seen as a little more volatile than usual due to the recent shakeup in U.S. politics and the unstable nature of different global areas. 2017 can go either way; we can use what we have pushed through in 2016 to motivate us for the future and work toward a more united world with less fighting and more peace, or we can fall to the divisiveness and hateful rhetoric we've witnessed here in America and in other countries such as Turkey, and the Philippines among others throughout the world. Hopefully we avoid the latter and continue working to make the world a more equal place for all. I for one am excited about the potential opportunities of unification and discovery that await us all.